City Development Committee - 13/02/2006

At a MEETING of the PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th February 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Fiona GRANT, Convener, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th January 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TOWARDS A TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND - CONSULTATION ON RAIL PRIORITIES

There was submitted Report No 81-2006 by the Director of Planning and Transportation outlining the Scottish Executive consultation document, "Towards a Transport Strategy for Scotland: Consultation on Rail Priorities", and Dundee City Council's response thereto.

The Committee agreed to note the purpose of the consultation and Dundee City Council's response, as detailed in the appendix to the report.

II LOCHEE MASTER PLAN

Thee was submitted Report No 76-2006 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking authority to bring forward a development framework for Central Lochee to secure the upgrading of the retail and residential properties in the area and provide an integrated land use strategy within which future proposals may be judged.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) authorise the preparation of a Development Framework/Master Plan for Central Lochee as the basis for consultation with the community, proprietors, tenants, public transport companies and prospective developers; and

(b) remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to report progress on this consultation exercise within six months.

III STAFF TRAVEL PLANNING IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 75-2006 by the Director of Planning and Transportation updating the Committee on the staff travel plans in the City of Dundee.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) note the actions of major employer travel plan partners during the last twenty four months; and

(b) remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to progress Dundee City Council's Travel Plan during 2006.

IV MODERNISING THE PLANNING SYSTEM - THE NEW PLANNING BILL

There was submitted Report No 7-2006 by the Director of Planning and Transportation reviewing the new Planning Bill and detailing this Council's response to the Scottish Executive.

The Committee approved the initial comments and agreed that they be forwarded to COSLA in order to enable them to give evidence directly to the Scottish Executive Communities Committee in response to the Bill at this time.

V STREET LIGHTING PARTNERSHIP

There was submitted Report No 89-2006 by the Director of Planning and Transportation relative to a proposal for the extension of the existing partnership with Tayside Contracts for the delivery of the Street Lighting Service to include an extended partnership with Perth and Kinross Council.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed:-

(i) to the extension of the partnership scheme to include Perth and Kinross Council;

(ii) that the Director of Planning and Transportation be remitted to report back to a future Committee with the result of this pilot scheme;

(iii) to remit a review of the Street Lighting Partnership Manager's post, including the role and responsibilities, to the Director of Planning and Transportation and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management); and

(iv) that further discussions take place with Angus Council to encourage them to form part of this project.

VI BUS ROUTE DEVELOPMENT GRANT - CROSS-CITY DIRECT - CONSTRUCTION OF MEDIPARK BUS LINK ROAD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN62-2006 making reference to Article XXIV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st March 2005, advising of a grant awarded to Dundee City Council by the Scottish Executive to introduce the new No 13 and 15 bus services to the City of Dundee.

It was reported that within the grant was a capital allocation to construct a bus only section of road linking Dundee Technology Park with the Medipark and hence Ninewells Hospital and that in order to permit the construction of this link road a legal agreement had been required between Dundee City Council, SET and NHS Trust. Convener's approval for this had been given on 19th January 2006. The legal agreement took two forms, firstly a licence of agreement to occupy and construct the link road which will be in force until 30th April 2006 and secondly, a minute of agreement which included the need for Dundee City Council:-

7                                             to purchase the land from SET and NHS Trust at the cost of one pound, if so required by them; and

7                                             to bear the cost of repositioning or amending equipment, traffic management and signage associated with a rising bollard if in future the positioning of these items could act as a constraint on the adjacent sites being developed.

The Committee noted accordingly.

VII CLOSURE OF LOCAL BUS TRAVEL CONCESSION SCHEMES

It was reported that the responsibility for the operation of Travel Concession Schemes for bus services would transfer to Transport Scotland, who were the new transport agency for the Scottish Executive, with effect from Saturday, 1st April 2006.

The Committee therefore noted that the Dundee City Council Travel Concession Schemes for reduced fare and free travel on local buses would be cancelled with effect from Friday, 31st March 2006.

VIII CONFIRMATION OF TREE PRESERVATION ORDER 10/2005 - GROUND AT PITALPIN HOUSE, PITALPIN STREET, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN39-2006 advising that on 14th September 2005 the Council had made a provisional Tree Preservation Order on the above mentioned site and that two objections to the Tree Preservation Order had been received. These were from an owner and occupier of one property at the site.

The Committee noted the terms of the objections and the Council's response thereto.

Thereafter, they authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and the Director of Planning and Transportation to undertake the necessary procedures to confirm the Tree Preservation Order subject to the modifications recommended by the Forestry Officer with regard to the removal of T3, T4, T5 and T8 from the Order.

IX AMBASSADOR ROUTES - ESPLANADE WEST ENTRY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN40-2006 making reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th October 2004 when authority was granted to appoint T & N Gilmartin to carry out improvement works to the Riverside Esplanade West Entry.

It was reported that the main contract works were now complete and further works had been identified to complete the improvements including repairs to the sea wall, lighting, seating, information boards and signage.

The Committee agreed to extend the contract with T & N Gilmartin to undertake these additional works at a cost of 35,000.

X NEW ROADS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN42-2006 detailing the undernoted applications for Road Construction Consent.

The Committee approved the applications subject to conditions which had been agreed between the Director of Planning and Transportation and the applicants.

It was further agreed that, on satisfactory completion of these roads and, if so requested by the applicants, they be entered on the List of Public Roads for the purposes of management and maintenance in terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

XI ROAD HUMPS (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 1998 - OLYMPIA LEISURE CENTRE, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN43-2006, making reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th November 2005 which approved the introduction of speed cushions at Olympia Leisure Centre, Dundee with a view to improving road safety by slowing traffic speeds.

It was reported that during the statutory consultation and public notice period no adverse comments had been received.

The Committee therefore authorised the scheme for the introduction of speed cushions at Olympia Leisure Centre.

XII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (VARIATION OF WAITING RESTRICTIONS) ORDER 2006

There was submitted Agenda Note AN44-2006, making reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th June 2005 instructing and authorising the preparation of an Order introducing further measure to vary the provisions of numerous existing Waiting Restriction Orders affecting Dundee.

It was reported that the proposed Order had been duly drafted and during the statutory consultation period no adverse comments had been received.

The Committee therefore authorised publication of the Order.

XIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (BROOMHILL ROAD AND KINNOULL ROAD, DUNDEE) (PROHIBITIION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2006

There was submitted Agenda Note AN45-2006, making reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th August 2005 instructing the preparation of an Order to remove vehicular access to the abovementioned site and to prohibit vehicular traffic on the adjacent roads in the interests of preserving environmental quality and thereby preserving the amenity of the area.

It was reported that the proposed Order had been duly drafted and during the statutory consultation period no adverse comments had been received.

The Committee therefore authorised formal publication of the Order as drafted.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as detailed in Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act

XIV VACANT AND DERELICT LAND FUND 2005/06 - ACQUISITION OF SUBJECTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN49-2006 advising the Committee of the acquisition of properties at Flat 2/L, 53 Erskine Street and Shop at 9/13 Dura Street, in connection with the Stobswell Regeneration Project, using the Vacant and Derelict Land funding source.

The Committee noted the acquisitions on the terms and conditions detailed in the note.

XV VACANT AND DERELICT LAND FUND 2005/06 - BOUNDARY WORK AT ELIZA STREET/MAINS LOAN

There was submitted Agenda Note AN41-2006 seeking authority for payment of a grant in respect of additional work at Eliza Street and Mains Loan.

The Committee approved the grant on the terms and conditions detailed in the note.

FIONA GRANT, Convener.